"It's as simple as this," he said via Zoom. "It's ultimately doing your consultation and instead of sitting in the consultation room with the doctor, you're basically sitting at home and I'm sitting somewhere else. We're going through the same things."

Telehealth allows people to connect with doctors and specialists remotely. (A Current Affair)

Telehealth means patients who don't require a physical examination can talk to their doctor from their home over the phone or via video platforms such as FaceTime, Skype or Zoom and appointments are made in the same way as a face-to-face appointment, by contacting your local GP's office online or by phone.

"I'm asking the same questions, we're reaching a point where we can come up with a plan," Dr Rochford said.

While a physical exam is not possible he said there are ways to help your doctor get all the information they need.

You can take your own temperature and show the doctor, or you can count your pulse to determine your heart rate and show any rashes or anything that you might be concerned about.

"And ultimately what ends up happening is we try to pull together that, that picture of what might be going on without being able to physically examine you," he continued.

"What's going to happen in the future is there a going to be more and more connected devices and there's even connected devices now that you can sync up with your computer that will give you information that then you can relay to me as your doctor, which starts to move us towards being even better in making diagnoses and deciding when to you need to actually come and see us."

Dr Rochford said if the elderly aren't tech savvy a lot can be done over the phone.

"Especially that vulnerable group over the age of 70," he said.

Telehealth was launched this week along with a range of measures to help Australians during the coronavirus crisis. (AAP)

"If you don't need to see your doctor set up a teleconsultation via the phone, it's far safer. And at that point you can decide on whether you need to actually physically go and see the doctor before you get there."

He described this as a form of "triaging" medical situations.

"If you do need to see the doctor, at least the doctors then said you have to come and see me," he said.

Digital health care protects the medical profession too.

"This where we have to harness innovation to help everybody. 20% of the cases worldwide have been healthcare workers," Dr Rochford said. "And all the measures we have in place right now are to stop the virus. It's to stop the healthcare system from being overwhelmed. And that includes beds and ventilators, but it also includes staff.

"And the other really important thing is it reduces the use of personal protective equipment, so that that equipment can be saved for another occasion."